How Many Car Accidents Per Year Occur in the U.S.?
Many car accidents per year occur in the U.S. — in fact, across the country, issues with driver error, roadway design and maintenance, manufacturing defects, and other factors can contribute to an accident. If you’re among the hundreds of thousands of people who have been injured (in one of the car accidents per year occur in the U.S.) due to another person’s fault, then you could be entitled to compensation.
Navigating the legal process for motor vehicle crashes can be a challenge, and can feel overwhelming to first-time plaintiffs. That’s why — despite the fact that hundreds of thousands of car accidents per year occur in the U.S. — so few injury victims actually pursue their legal right to compensation. Even if you’re unsure about whether you’re entitled to sue for compensation, it’s important to explore the possibility. That’s why we encourage you to talk to qualified personal injury lawyers who can provide a case evaluation and help you understand what your strategic options are to secure compensation.
That being said, if you’d like to learn more about car accident statistics in the US (such as how many car accidents per year occur in the U.S.), and various other related issues, read on! We’ll go through some of the basics.
What percent of crashes are caused by driver error?
It is estimated that roughly 98 percent of car crashes and crashes are caused by driver error. That means that — to secure compensation for your injuries — you will most likely have to sue the other driver who caused the collision. That being said, the other driver’s error does not necessarily exist in a vacuum.
Drivers can be induced into an error due to various factors.
For example, if the City poorly maintains a roadway, then there could be visibility issues at night due to inadequate street lighting. This could exacerbate the risks when the driver makes an error, contributing to the collision. Under these circumstances, you could potentially sue the City for damages, too.
In another example, let’s suppose that the other driver’s vehicle was improperly designed, leading to a brake issue. The brake issue reduced the margin for error, so when the driver made a mistake by speeding, they could not correct that mistake in time before a collision occurred. Under these circumstances, the auto manufacturer could potentially be sued for damages, too.
What age group causes most car accidents?
Unsurprisingly, younger drivers contribute a disproportionately greater amount to motor vehicle accidents — and the statistics bear this out.
According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), drivers aged 16–24 were involved in 22.8% of all accidents in 2021. Drivers aged 25–34 were involved in 22.6% of all accidents in the same year. Together, the 16-34 range was involved in a whopping 45.4% of all accidents.
Younger drivers are also at a higher risk of being involved in a fatal car accident, highlighting the severity of accidents within this age group.
Youth has long been associated with car accident risks. Why? Industry experts argue that there are several contributing factors:
- Inexperience
- Mechanical unfamiliarity
- Tendency to engage in risk-taking activity
- Tendency to speed
- Group distractions in the car
- And more
What state has the most fatal accidents?
Texas has the highest number of motor vehicle crash deaths per year, with 3,874 deaths (linked to 3,520 fatal car accidents). California comes in second, with 3,847 deaths (linked to 3,558 fatal car accidents). This is fairly sensible, given that these are the two largest states by population. From a per capita standpoint, however, Mississippi has the most motor vehicle fatalities, as it has a whopping 25.4 motor vehicle accident deaths per 100,000 people (on a yearly basis).
What explains Mississippi’s high fatality rate?
Interestingly, risk factors for motor vehicle deaths vary quite a bit, and include:
- Low-income levels
- Low education levels
- Significant numbers of unlicensed drivers
- Weak regulatory environment
- Loose enforcement of traffic regulation
- Inadequate spending on public roadway maintenance
- Significant rural traffic
- Low road visibility
- Unfavorable weather conditions
- And more
For example, poorly maintained and poorly designed rural roads may contribute to more accidents due to low visibility, potholes, and other issues. Additionally, enforcement on rural roads tends to be less stringent (due to a lack of law enforcement numbers), which can lead to more reckless driving. Thus, states like Mississippi — which are mostly rural — may have heightened accident risks on the roadways.
What is the #1 leading cause of vehicle accidents in the US: distracted driving?
Distracted driving is the #1 cause of motor vehicle accidents in the US. Distracted driving covers a variety of different behaviors, including:
- Texting while driving
- Making a call while driving
- Consuming food or drink while driving
- Inattentive driving
- Changing music or otherwise operating the vehicle dashboard while driving
- And more
Distracted driving can lead to fatal crashes, with statistics showing peak days and times for such incidents, as well as the involvement of different age groups and genders.
Drivers owe a duty of care to others on the roadway to operate their vehicles in a reasonably safe manner (given the circumstances). To the degree possible, they should exercise proper care to avoid driving while distracted.
If you’d like to change the settings on your dashboard so that you can properly connect your iPhone, for example, then you should come to a stop at the side of the road or in a parking lot before doing so — do not attempt to change these settings while actively operating the vehicle.
How many motor vehicle fatalities occur nationally each year as result of automobile collisions?
In 2021, there were 42,939 fatalities across the United States (linked to motor vehicle collision incidents). That’s a rather significant amount — coming out to 118 deaths per day.
The increase in fatalities in the year 2021 may be partially due to a rebound in driving after the initial lull during the onset of the pandemic in 2020, according to the history of the Fatality Analysis Reporting System.
In a car accident fatality scenario, the deceased individual’s estate can bring a lawsuit against the defendant. Further, the deceased individual’s loved ones may also be able to bring a lawsuit against the defendant — this type of claim is unique, however, and is based on the losses you sustained due to the death of your loved one.
For example, suppose that your father dies in a motor vehicle accident. Your father supported you financially, with $2,000 a month. After they die, you’d potentially have a right to independently sue the other driver (who is responsible for your father’s death) for the $2,000 a month that you’ve no longer got access to.
You don’t have an unlimited amount of time — there are deadlines if you wish to pursue a claim for damages
Every claim is tied to a statute of limitations — in other words, a claim deadline. If you do not file your claim before the deadline passes, then you could be restricted from recovering compensation under the law.
For example, in California, the statute of limitations period for a negligence-based injury claim is two years (counting from the date of injury). You would therefore have a two year deadline and the countdown would start on the date of your injury.
Failure to adhere to the statute of limitations deadline will lead to courts automatically dismissing your claim on the basis that you have relinquished or abandoned your right to compensation for the claim under the law. Given the severe consequences of failing to bring your claim in a timely manner, it’s critical that you consult an experienced personal injury attorney who can help you push your case ahead before the deadlines pass.
That being said, you may have options if you’ve waited too long — in some cases, an exception may apply, suspending or otherwise delaying the countdown for your statute of limitations period. For example, if your injury was not obvious (and could not be reasonably discovered until a later date), then the statute of limitations period would only begin on the date that you actually discovered the injury — which could be many years after the accident.
Contact 1-800-THE-LAW2 for a Free Legal Consultation
If you’ve been injured in a car accident, then you could be entitled to sue for damages under the law to cover your losses. Many car accidents per year occur in the U.S. It’s not uncommon to pursue a lawsuit in this scenario. That being said, car accident disputes can come with unique challenges and opportunities — and as a first-time plaintiff, you’ll want to secure the assistance of an experienced car accident attorney who can help you navigate the legal process effectively.
Contact 1-800-THE-LAW2 for a free legal consultation with a qualified personal injury lawyer in our network. During the initial consultation, you’ll have an opportunity to discuss your case in more detail and learn more about your strategic options. Further, if you decide that you’d like to avoid moving forward with the attorney, there’s no obligation to continue — so there’s no downside to calling in and getting your case evaluated.
We look forward to assisting you.
